UA's Boarding Process with WILMA now - Inconsistent process / PreBoarding issues
Oct 18, 2023, 5:04 am
#376
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,419
I'm advocating for lines and processes that reward people that have their stuff together and ready. The time wasters are those who don't have their phone brightness up, or a wrinkled boarding pass, or just aren't paying attention. Have one lane for those that are following the process who can board first, and the other lane to send scofflaws back to the gate area.
Oct 18, 2023, 5:39 am
#377
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,337
Sorry! I cannot remember the PMUA boarding process when this was implemented back then
How does this impact family traveling together?
For example, if husband and wife traveling together, one sits in aisle and one sits in the middle seat, would they board separately or together?
How does this impact family traveling together?
For example, if husband and wife traveling together, one sits in aisle and one sits in the middle seat, would they board separately or together?
Oct 18, 2023, 6:02 am
#378
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: IAH
Programs: MileagePlus-Premier Silver, Marriott Bonvoy-Silver Elite
Posts: 703
Sorry! I cannot remember the PMUA boarding process when this was implemented back then
How does this impact family traveling together?
For example, if husband and wife traveling together, one sits in aisle and one sits in the middle seat, would they board separately or together?
How does this impact family traveling together?
For example, if husband and wife traveling together, one sits in aisle and one sits in the middle seat, would they board separately or together?
Oct 18, 2023, 6:59 am
#379
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IAH & CMH
Programs: UA GS, UA MM, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Uber Platinum :)
Posts: 773
I don't pre board as a veteran, as the gate agent has got it wrong, and I board in the next pre group anyhow... but I've always wondered how they know someone is a veteran or not.
Oct 18, 2023, 7:25 am
#380
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,044
SF Chronicle headline refers to a "revolutionary change" 
Even the Times picked this story up. It seems the UA media relations team has been hard at work. Not much else positive for them to say these days, I guess (Alternative stories that they decided not to push: "Fares continue to climb, while service gets worse!"; "UA meals continue to suck!"; "Elite upgrade "benefits" become ever more illusory!")
Even the Times picked this story up. It seems the UA media relations team has been hard at work. Not much else positive for them to say these days, I guess (Alternative stories that they decided not to push: "Fares continue to climb, while service gets worse!"; "UA meals continue to suck!"; "Elite upgrade "benefits" become ever more illusory!")
Oct 18, 2023, 9:00 am
#381
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K MM *G
Posts: 344
UA tested this back in Apr2023 at LAX and it was a failure. Program stopped and assume gone.
Guess some at HQ thought otherwise to save two minutes. Very doubtful.
This was the flyer from the test program:
Guess some at HQ thought otherwise to save two minutes. Very doubtful.
This was the flyer from the test program:
Oct 18, 2023, 9:35 am
#383
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,942
https://liveandletsfly.com/united-ai...process-wilma/
- Pre-Boarding
- Customers with disabilities and unaccompanied minors
- Active-duty military
- Global Services members
- Families traveling with children two and under
- Premier 1K members
- Group 1
- United Polaris Business
- United First
- United Business
- Premier Platinum
- Premier Gold
- Star Alliance Gold
- Group 2
- Premier Silver
- Star Alliance Silver
- Chase-United co-branded cardholders
- those who paid for Premier Access
- Group 3
- Window seats
- Exit row seats
- Non-rev travelers
- Group 4
- Middle seats
- Group 5
- Aisle seats
- Group 6
- Basic economy (no larger carry-on bag permitted – only a small personal item)
Oct 18, 2023, 9:41 am
#384
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,162
There's an irony to this being post 43 in this thread...
Change will always lead to questions by some, and even if that's only a very small percentage of passengers it still amounts to a real number when considering the number of passengers UA boards every day. Having consistent messasing around any change like this is a good thing.
Change will always lead to questions by some, and even if that's only a very small percentage of passengers it still amounts to a real number when considering the number of passengers UA boards every day. Having consistent messasing around any change like this is a good thing.
Oct 18, 2023, 10:11 am
#385
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,515
There's an irony to this being post 43 in this thread...
Change will always lead to questions by some, and even if that's only a very small percentage of passengers it still amounts to a real number when considering the number of passengers UA boards every day. Having consistent messasing around any change like this is a good thing.
Change will always lead to questions by some, and even if that's only a very small percentage of passengers it still amounts to a real number when considering the number of passengers UA boards every day. Having consistent messasing around any change like this is a good thing.
The entire process is a mess and has been chaotic because there are no consistencies. Pax improperly board, whether purposely or inadvertently, and most gate agents don't enforce anything. Planes are often full, and even the longest scheduled board time in the industry is not long enough.
Oct 18, 2023, 12:58 pm
#386
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier
Posts: 782
This sounds a lot to me like the new math where 2+2=7.....but I am just a grumpy old guy, former elite who is happy to have airline choices again. Last week we went with the family, 6 of us on WN. They boarded the entire plane in about 15 minutes or less, seats were more comfortable than UA, did not have to drag bags onto the plane.....On UA we still board with group 2 so this change does not seem to effect me, it just seems to me like they are just going to make it more confusing and take even more time. Maybe I should just get my cane of out the closet and bring it along with my handicapped car pass.......
Oct 18, 2023, 2:26 pm
#388
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,722
9 groups like AA and DL would be far better.
GS and 1K should have their own groups instead of being required to mass with pre-boarders.
Then paid F.
Then Plat/Gold and Silver/Chase card.
Then Window/Middle/Aisle.
Then BE.
There, did it. 9 groups, less messy.
I have my own views on when families and disabled passengers should board, but don't want to hijack.
GS and 1K should have their own groups instead of being required to mass with pre-boarders.
Then paid F.
Then Plat/Gold and Silver/Chase card.
Then Window/Middle/Aisle.
Then BE.
There, did it. 9 groups, less messy.
I have my own views on when families and disabled passengers should board, but don't want to hijack.
Oct 18, 2023, 2:26 pm
#389
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,515
Oct 18, 2023, 3:11 pm
#390
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,318
So love these threads lol
We all dance around the real issue -- the problem isn't the process -- it's the PEOPLE!
Nothing about what UA is doing will save any time -- it's like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic...
TBH all of this has been made much worse by the airlines themselves making sure that everyone is "special" / and then charging for checked bags / allowing people break the rules / not maintaining consistent standards...
There is a reason that Asian airlines board / de-board so much quicker.... People follow the rules -- rules that are clearly known -- and ENFORCED!
We all dance around the real issue -- the problem isn't the process -- it's the PEOPLE!
Nothing about what UA is doing will save any time -- it's like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic...
TBH all of this has been made much worse by the airlines themselves making sure that everyone is "special" / and then charging for checked bags / allowing people break the rules / not maintaining consistent standards...
There is a reason that Asian airlines board / de-board so much quicker.... People follow the rules -- rules that are clearly known -- and ENFORCED!